NYC Gunman Who Killed NYPD Officer and Several Others Left Suicide Note with Possible Motive [WATCH]

The gunman responsible for a deadly shooting inside a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper Monday evening left behind a note referencing the NFL and claiming he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), despite having never played professional football, law enforcement officials confirmed, as reported by the New York Post.

Shane Tamura, 27, fatally shot NYPD Officer Didarul Islam and three other individuals before turning the gun on himself inside 345 Park Avenue — the high-rise that houses the NFL’s headquarters.

New: NYC gunman, Shane Tamura, carried a note in his pocket claiming he suffered from CTE and asking that his brain be studied.

The three-page note was described as rambling. It contained references to the NFL that sources described as vague. Tamura was a former high school… https://t.co/lFOhKEXsFk pic.twitter.com/SDHo7XNYO1

— The Facts Dude (@The_Facts_Dude) July 29, 2025

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A fifth victim was also shot and remains in critical but stable condition. One of the wounded is believed to be an NFL employee, according to a letter sent to league staff by Commissioner Roger Goodell.

In the aftermath of the shooting, investigators found several pages of handwritten notes on Tamura, in which he blamed the NFL for his mental decline and claimed CTE was the cause.

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“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the note read, referencing the former Pittsburgh Steelers player who died in 2005.

Another line in the note stated, “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you.” Tamura also requested that his brain be studied after his death, writing, “Study my brain please I’m sorry Tell Rick I’m sorry for everything.”

Authorities believe Tamura intended to target the NFL’s offices, but Mayor Eric Adams said the shooter “mistakenly went up the wrong elevator banks” and ended up on the 33rd floor, which houses the offices of building owner Rudin Properties.

“It appears as tho he was going after the employees of the NFL,” Mayor Adams said during an appearance on Fox 5.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch laid out a detailed timeline of the shooting.

Surveillance footage showed Tamura exiting a black BMW double-parked between 51st and 52nd streets around 6:28 p.m. Armed with an M4 rifle, he entered the building’s lobby, turned right, and shot Officer Islam.

Tamura then opened fire again, killing a woman hiding behind a pillar and a security guard stationed at a desk.

Another man was shot and injured in the lobby before Tamura allowed a woman to exit an elevator unharmed. He then ascended to the 33rd floor, where he fatally shot one more individual before taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.

Tisch confirmed on X at 7:52 p.m. that the scene had been contained and the shooter was neutralized.

BREAKING: Authorities have released a photo of NYC shooter Shane Tamura. pic.twitter.com/2OphVbsXwH

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 29, 2025

“We’re still going through the suicide note to zero in on the exact reason,” Tisch said, “but at this time it appears as if it’s something attached to his belief he experienced CTE from the NFL.”

Authorities later confirmed Tamura had a history of mental illness and resided in Las Vegas, where he worked as a security guard at a casino.

He never played professional football. Former classmates and coaches recalled him as a promising high school running back at Golden Valley High School in California, where he graduated in 2016.

“It looked like the sky was the limit, and then it wasn’t anymore,” said Caleb Clarke, a former classmate, in comments to NBC News.

Shane Tamura, a standout running back who graduated in 2016, was identified as the NYC shooter.

The NFL headquarters, located in the targeted building, may have been a motive for the attack.

“Possibly white” shooter according to CNN. pic.twitter.com/lz1lqWdyEB

— Digital Gal (@DigitalGal_X) July 29, 2025

Commissioner Tisch also reached out directly to executives at Blackstone, another major tenant in the building, to inform them they were not believed to be targets of the attack.

The investigation into Tamura’s background and motive remains ongoing.

Who was Shane Tamura? The 27, year old crossed state lines to unleash terror in Midtown.

A suicide note found…blaming the NFL and hinted at CTE.
The investigation is ongoing.#NYC #ParkAveShooting pic.twitter.com/IfI7fJACxK

— April Color (@ColorApril) July 29, 2025

Authorities are continuing to review his writings and digital footprint.

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